Summary of "10 Things I Stopped Buying in 2026 (Saved $1,100/month)"

Summary — finance-focused takeaways from “10 Things I Stopped Buying in 2026 (Saved $1,100/month)”

Top-line thesis

The presenter (Rashida / “Rashidita”) audited everyday consumer spending and replaced high-cost, low-value choices with cheaper, higher-quality alternatives. The changes collectively saved her more than $1,000/month (title claim) and improved her ability to invest (Roth IRA contributions, better emergency-fund allocation).
She includes a clear disclaimer that this is personal experience and research, not professional financial advice.

“I’m not a financial adviser. I’m sharing what worked for me — always do your own homework and consult a professional before making investment decisions.”

Assets, sectors, and instruments mentioned

Consumer sectors:
- Autos (new cars, certified pre‑owned)
- Restaurants / fast food
- Cable & streaming
- Smartphones and consumer electronics
- Beauty / skincare
- Insurance (home & auto)
- Subscriptions / apps
- Banking (savings accounts)
- Workplace lunches
Financial instruments / accounts:
- Roth IRA
- Emergency fund (cash)
- High‑yield savings accounts (HYS)
- Money market accounts
- FDIC‑insured online banks
Companies & services referenced:
- YouTube TV, Hulu, PlayStation View, Apple TV+, Max, Apple Pay, Progressive, State Farm, GEICO
Not included:
- No stock tickers, bonds, crypto, commodities, or specific ETFs were named.

Key numbers, timelines, yields, and metrics

Dining / consumer price changes:
- Example lunch: $35 (2026) vs $15 (2019) for same meal.
- Fast food price increases (2014–2026): cited as 1–200% for some staples.
- Typical casual dinner for two: $70–$80 before tip.
Auto financing:
- Average car payment in 2026: > $750/month (vs $550 in 2019) — about a 40% increase.
- Loan terms now up to 86 months.
- New-car immediate depreciation: roughly 20–30% right after purchase.
Car-buying rules-of-thumb (recommended):
1. Put at least 20% down.
2. Finance no more than 4 years.
3. Keep monthly payment < 8% of gross monthly income.
Smartphone upgrade cycle:
- Keep a phone 4 years instead of upgrading annually → estimated savings ≈ $2,400 per cycle.
- Suggest redirecting part of those savings to a Roth IRA (example: $1,000).
Skincare:
- Telehealth dermatologist consult: ~$20 copay.
- Generic tretinoin: ~$20 per tube (vs $100+ retail alternatives).
Insurance:
- Annual price‑match audit takes ≈ 30–60 minutes and can commonly save ≈ $80/month via retention offers or switching.
Subscriptions:
- Average person pays for 3–4 services they haven’t used in the last 90 days.
- “Cancel-and-on-demand” can save ≈ $60/month.
Cash / savings yields (2026 example ranges):
- Big national banks: as low as 0.01% on checking/savings.
- High‑yield savings / money market accounts: ~3.0–3.5% (variable).
- Example: $20,000 emergency fund kept at a low bank rate could lose nearly $1,000/year in forgone interest vs moving to an HYS.
Tipping & takeaway behavior:
- Tablet prompts commonly suggest 18–25%; overall tipping creeping to 15–20% on transactions without table service.
- Presenter’s tipping policy: max 10% for takeout; 20–25% for full table service. Estimates saving $40–$50/month by avoiding inappropriate tip prompts.
Workplace lunch:
- Daily $15–$20 lunch → up to ≈ $500/month or ≈ $6,000/year. Presenter points out this is near the cost of fully funding a Roth IRA.

Practical methodologies / step‑by‑step frameworks shared

Car purchase framework:
1. Put 20% down.
2. Limit financing to a maximum 4‑year term.
3. Ensure the monthly payment is less than 8% of gross monthly income.
Insurance price‑match audit (annual):
- Spend ~30 minutes getting two competitor quotes.
- Call your current provider, request a match citing competitor quotes.
- Keep the policy if they match; if not, switch.
Subscription management: “cancel-and-on‑demand”
- Cancel autopay subscriptions.
- Subscribe only for the month you need (e.g., binge a show), then cancel.
- Use Apple Pay / iPhone subscription manager to track and cancel easily.
Emergency fund optimization:
- Move emergency cash from legacy low‑yield banks to FDIC‑insured online high‑yield savings or money market accounts to capture prevailing high yield (e.g., 3–3.5% in 2026).
Food / dining savings:
- Cook and meal‑prep in bulk.
- Take half of a restaurant meal home; pack leftovers for lunch.
- Limit eating out to special occasions and family outings.
Tipping policy:
- Tip generously for full table service (20–25%).
- Decline or cap tips for self‑service/counter orders; cap takeout at ~10%.

Explicit recommendations and cautions

Reconsider buying brand‑new cars given steep depreciation and longer loan terms; prefer certified pre‑owned when it meets the financing rules above.
Stop automatic annual smartphone upgrades — extend useful life to ~4 years and invest the savings.
Audit insurance annually — staying loyal often costs more.
Move emergency funds into competitive online high‑yield accounts, but remember rates are variable; confirm FDIC insurance and liquidity.
Cancel unused subscriptions and adopt an on‑demand approach to streaming and apps.
Be intentional about tipping; avoid emotional or tablet-driven tip prompts for counter service.
Behavioral advice: review bank statements to find “leaks” and reallocate savings to investments (example: Roth IRA).
Practical caution: high‑yield account rates fluctuate — do research and verify terms before moving funds.

Estimated category savings (examples given by presenter)

Cooking / meal prep: saves > $300/month.
Reducing inappropriate tipping: saves $40–$50/month (≈ $600/year).
Cable/streaming switch example: YouTube TV $82/month vs prior ~$140 → saving ≈ $58/month.
Insurance negotiation: saves > $80/month.
Subscription trimming: saves ≈ $60/month.
Emergency fund migration: example shows ≈ $1,000/year left on the table for a $20k fund at a low bank rate.
Workplace lunches: up to $500/month or ≈ $6,000/year if buying daily.

Disclosures

Presenter’s explicit statement: she is not a financial adviser and recommends doing your own homework and consulting a professional.
Notes that rates (e.g., high‑yield savings) are variable and subject to change.

Presenter / source

Presenter: Rashida (referred to as “Rashidita” / “Rashida”), host of the YouTube channel Smart Money Moves.

If you want, I can convert these recommendations into a prioritized checklist (quick wins first) or estimate an expected monthly savings projection by category using conservative/median assumptions. Which would help you more?